Browns Insider: Bruises a pleasant price to pay as Lewis enjoys focus on ground game

Joshua Gunter/The Plain DealerJamal Lewis takes a tumble after colliding with the Bengals' Leon Hall during the first half of Sunday's game.

Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski made good on his promise to give Jamal Lewis the ball more, and it worked beautifully. Lewis ran the ball six times for 40 yards on the first drive Sunday to set up a Phil Dawson field goal.

"Chud surprised me running it like we did early," said Lewis, who finished with 25 catches for 79 yards and a TD. "We just came out and set the tempo. We're a little beat up from pounding it up in there."

The Browns abided by the Lewis Rule: give him the ball 25 or more times and you almost always win. Lewis is 23-3 when he carries 25 times or more. In the previous three games, he averaged less than 15 carries per game -- all losses.

The return to the run came a week after Lewis said it was "pathetic" he got the ball only 12 times in Baltimore. Chud said he agreed and that it would change.

"I think we were going to go that way whether I said anything or not," said Lewis. "The offensive staff came together and we played some good physical football."

Romeo Crennel said the coaching staff told the players the first two plays would be runs and they'd go from there. Lewis gained six yards on his first run, 18 on his second.

"The running plays were successful so we stayed with them," he said. "We drove down the field and scored, so it was a good drive."

Heading into the game, Lewis was averaging 119.3 yards against the Bengals, including 154 yards in his previous two games. "I think it's Marvin Lewis," he said, referring to when the two were together in Baltimore.

Lewis also scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter to make it 17-6, one on which he went up and over to break the plane.

"I got a good block from [Darnell Dinkins], my old boy from Baltimore," said Lewis. "We've kind of got a little patent there."

"I love Joe," said Anderson. "I love him. I think I hit [Lewis] on elbow trying to put into his stomach. He was a little quick. I love Joe for getting on that for us."

Joshua Gunter/The Plain DealerOffensive lineman Kevin Shaffer is helped off the field after suffering a concussion in the third quarter Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. Shaffer was replaced by Isaac Sowells and did not return to the game.

Steinbach plays: Guard Eric Steinbach, who confirmed an initial diagnosis of missing 3-5 weeks with a sprained shoulder, rallied to face his former team. It helped the Browns establish the run.

"I busted my butt in the training room all week and then you wake up today and the adrenalin's flowing," he said.

Told observers were surprised to see him out there, he said with a laugh, "So was I."

Said Lewis: "It just showed great effort and it shows how smart of a player he is to come out here after not practicing for two weeks. I saw him in his playbook last night and I was like 'he's playing.' He's a professional and ready to go."

Crennel on Stallworth: Crennel defended Donte Stallworth's absence over the first four games with a pulled quad. "He's injured," said Crennel. "They told us it would be 2 1/2 to four weeks. He's within the prognosis of the medical people. He's made progress. Hopefully he'll be available for the Giants game. He plays a running position and he had a quad pull."

Linebackers shine: Outside linebackers Kamerion Wimbley and Alex Hall both came up with big fourth-quarter turnovers. Wimbley forced Chris Perry to fumble and Mike Adams recovered to set up Lewis' TD. With the Browns up, 17-12, and a little more than two minutes remaining, Hall sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick for a 9-yard loss and the ball popped loose. The strip led to a Dawson field goal. It was Hall's second sack in two games.

"Obviously we wanted to get a stop and they had just scored and we were pressing to come back and a couple of guys were like, 'we've got to get off the field,'" said Hall. "So I just went out there and did it -- tackled the quarterback."

Crennel praised the sack, but said "he also made a couple of plays that hurt us. He made that impact play at a critical point in the game. He's going to be a good player for the Browns."

Wimbley had the forced fumble and his first sack of the season in the second quarter.

"I've been hampered by injuries and things like that with a groin and I was just able to come out and play and able to make some plays to help us get in position to win the game," said Wimbley. "Our offense came out and capitalized when we needed it. I put more pressure on myself to perform than anyone else can."

Adams' big day: Adams had his second interception in as many weeks to go along with the fumble recovery.

"When you get pressure on the quarterback like that, they have no choice," said Adams. "I think he got frazzled a little bit and just started chucking it, so we took advantage of that."

Shaffer concussion: Right tackle Kevin Shaffer left the game in the third quarter with a concussion and didn't return. He was replaced by Isaac Sowells. Ryan Tucker was inactive. ... Thomas had his left knee heavily wrapped after the game.

Painful wake-up call: Anderson woke up with swelling in his right throwing arm on Saturday that extended down to his hand. But there was not believed to be any concern about his ability to grip the football.

Vickers whacked: Lawrence Vickers, who had one of his best career games blocking, was hit in face by a beer bottle on Lewis' TD run. "He was a little frustrated," said Anderson. "He was pretty mad, I know that." On his blocking, Anderson said, "He did a great job. He's our guy."